Saunier Duval

Boilermakers specialising in wall-hung tanks and monosplit air-conditioning units. This is sex.

Tour heritage

Founded in 2004, they have made no impact on the Tour's result sheets. At least their mainly yellow team jersey makes them look as if they're doing well. And they did indeed enjoy a red-hot Giro d'Italia this year.

Past controversies

David Millar has been forgiven but his team are currently in the line of fire over their hiring of two riders allegedly implicated in Puerto, Koldo Gil and Juan-Manuel Garate. The case continues.

In the coffers

£3.4m has been pumped into the team.

The boss

Nosferatu lookalike Mauro Gianetti had a 17-year professional career that included one spectacular season in 1995, when he won the Amstel Gold and Liège-Bastogne-Liège classics. He added a silver medal in the 1996 world road race title but was never quite the same after collapsing in a stage of the Tour of Romandie in 1998 and spending 12 days in intensive care. He has built a team that punches consistently above its weight.

Team leader

In 2006 they backed Millar, the charismatic Scot, on his return from a two-year doping ban and he has repaid them with stage victories in last year's Tour of Spain, and this year's Paris-Nice. Millar was a little below his best in the Dauphiné Libéré but will still start as a favourite for the prologue time-trial in London. In the absence of Riccardo Ricco and Gilberto Simoni, Millar will lead the team and will tilt for a road race stage win as well.

Wild man of the saddle

There isn't one. Last year each rider promoted human rights; this year they're involved in the Rock Not War initiative, with the aim of planting a million trees in Mali. All together now: tie a yellow jersey round the old oak tree...

They'll be happy with ...

A prologue win for Millar would fit the bill nicely.

Fans will paint on the road

"Saunier yet so far"; "We love Saunier - they're wall-hung"

William Fotheringham predicts

Did not shine last year but Millar should be stronger this time.

Has come from nowhere to make unlikely rise to prominence in recent years. Versatile, perky, creamy-coloured and likely to make an appearance on many different fronts. No real pedigree, however, but apparently quite a bit of interest in Britain.